This weekend is the 4th of July… the day when (at least in my area) guys and gals dress down in their trunks and bikinis, hop on a bike, and head down to the beach or pool for a good ol’ fashioned barbeque to celebrate our American ancestors. For many of you, this may be the first time you don a bathing suit for the year. You’ll have to fish it out of the higher-up drawer, dust it off, and test the fit to see what works and where. For those of you who make it a point to stay “in fashion” when it comes to your aquatic ensemble, I have some good news… you may not have to buy anything new this year.

Retro Bathing Suits

The look in womens suits (and for some ballsy dudes, mens too) right now is retro cut and prints. If your mother was Jackie O or a Jane Smith with impeccable, ahead-of-her-time style, you may bypass the mall and go shopping for your Summer 2009 suit in mom’s closet. One-piece and skirt cut styles like the Michael Kors shown here [photo above] are popping up everywhere from Rodeo Drive to Target Stores. If you’re concerned that you can’t look good without showing more skin, you’re wrong. I for one think one-pieces are smart, sexy, and very underutilized… and I love it when the lady penguins pull them out of winter storage.

1950s Summer

Retro swimwear means colors and prints from yesteryear just as much as it means fit and styling. The bright yellows are hot for summer, and I think I might be blinded by polka dot prints by September. The Kors piece above is touching on a more carefree 1950s feel [small photo above], but the current trend isn’t really limited to any particular era. We’re seeing one and two piece suits mimicking the 1970s and early 1980s look that tacked Farrah Fawcett’s poster up on every guys bedroom wall (or igloo wall).

This look [see Farrah Fawcett, above right] worked as well for Daisy Duke in Hazard County as it did for Hef’s ladies at the Mansion throughout the 70s … and it’s back! I’m excited, how about you? Solid color one pieces, very few prints or patterns, solely relying on cut and shape for the sex appeal that a suit should have. The suit here [see Urban Outfitters model, left] is a great example of this. The high thigh cut and leotard mid-section screams “Fame! I wanna live forever!” 1980… and the deep neckline and elongated triangle straps give it just enough exposure (or promise of the possibility for it) to be ultra sexy. So, go diggin’ through the boxes in mama’s garage and find yourself a suit for summer!